Hoosiers respond to consecutive losses, beat UC Davis

The IU field hockey team proved it could come back. After losing back-to-back matches, the team beat UC Davis 4-1 in Oxford, Ohio, to bring its record to 5-2.

Having been out-shot 25-13 in the last two games, it was clear the offensive production would need to be changed to resemble that of the first four games. In those matches, the shots were overwhelmingly in favor of IU and they scored 14 goals compared to the opponent’s three.

The Hoosiers’ attack at the start of the game clicked. Freshman forward and midfielder Audra Heilman scored her first career goal in the sixth minute.

In the second half, the offense stayed strong, nabbing a goal from freshman forward Nicole Volgraf in the 37th minute to extend the lead to 2-0. Seven minutes later, Heilman got her second goal of the game, scoring off a rebound.

After giving up a goal in the 64th minute, Volgraf scored to put away the Aggies, giving her two goals for the game.

The Hoosiers out-shot their fifth opponent of the year, getting 29 shots to just 17 from UC Davis. Sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Olson played in her first full match of the season and made four saves.

IU squares off against No. 15 Ohio in Athens, Ohio, at noon Sunday.